Parks Commission Updated on Pittsfield's Outdoor Recreation Projects

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Parks Commission on Tuesday received updates on various outdoor recreation projects happening within the city.

A bike skills track in Springside Park and a master vision for improvements at Pontoosuc Lake Park are on the horizon.

After a year of deliberating, the track's design was approved in December pending the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the commission and the Berkshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Biking Association, who are paying for the project through fundraising.

Commissioner Anthony DeMartino reported that since the approval, there has been discussion between himself and the city Purchasing Agent Colleen Hunter-Mullett, City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta, and Park, Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath about the MOU.

DeMartino said they are making sure that every box is checked properly.

"I've said this before, and I know the commission stands behind the statement, that we want to get this right," McGrath added. "And so we're taking our appropriate amount of time to get all of those specifics answered by the Commonwealth, in particular."

The bike park will cover 2.3 acres on the former baseball field behind the north playground. An abutting location was originally proposed and approved but the commission later requested that it be moved south.

Its final design consists of an asphalt pump track, a skills development area, a flow zone, and a dual slalom course for head-to-head racing. In addition, there is also a picnic area and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance features throughout.

The proposal has been referred to as the "pump track" but in fact, that is only one of the four features in the design.

The revisioning of Pontoosuc Lake Park is now materializing into designs.

The commission will see three concept ideas for the park's master vision at its February meeting. Last week, McGrath received the schemes from Berkshire Design Group out of Northampton, which has been hired for the project.

The designs will be brought out to the community for feedback through a virtual or in-person information session depending on COVID-19 regulations. A final concept will be made based on the commission, stakeholder, and community input.

The commission also got an update on how a new and long anticipated outdoor recreation facility is prospering.

Recreation and Special Events Coordinator Becky Manship said she was pleased to say that the city's dog park has been a great success since its opening in September.

There is a grand opening planned for May 14 to celebrate that has been in Pittsfield's long-range plan since 2003.  

After the park has been open for a full year, the city will be eligible for an $8,000 capital grant.  The funding is planned to be used on a new maintenance gate for the large dog area and an asphalt parking area.

McGrath stressed that the dog park is still open through the winter but that the gate to the parking lot is closed because the unpaved lot could be damaged by snowplows.

"The park has been wildly successful, and we're seeing it used all winter long, that's been the trend and what we're tracking," he said.

"Early on when we conceived the dog park, I don't think we had envisioned the amount of use that we're getting during the wintertime, so I think the facility begs for an asphalt formal parking area."

Stop & Shop Boosts BCC Food Pantry by $7,500

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:34AM / Thursday, April 03, 2025

Posing with the 'big check' Wednesday are BCC program coordinator Meghan Donnelly, in pink, and Stop & Shop's Shannon Karafian, holding the check. To Karafian's right are SGA's Ash Smith and David Castegnaro.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stop & Shop boosted Berkshire Community College's food pantry by $7,500, providing students with nutritional stability while focusing on education.

Late last year, Stop & Shop donated $7,500 in gift cards to BCC for its Campus Cupboard, making it the 50th college partner of the grocery's School Food Pantry Program. This stocked the on-campus pantry with food and toiletry items available for any student or staff member in need.

"The dedication that we have seen from the staff here, not just in preparing for today's event, but their commitment all year round to supporting the students here has been just truly a sight to see," said Shannon Karafian, the grocer's School Food Pantry program manager, noting "We know there's a need."

BCC's essential needs coordinator Meghan Donnelly said the donation, made in November, has tremendously impacted the college community and will be instrumental in assuring the pantry shelves have a variety of stock.

"We were thrilled to have the money," explaining that the grocery chain took care of the Wednesday's events marking the donation, including a cooking lesson and goodie bags.

"… They have just been absolutely wonderful with supporting us, and we're super, super grateful for their collaboration."

Donnelly is glad to see "quite a bit of growth" in the panty this year and noted the students' kindness and consideration around it. She often hears them worry that someone else might need it more.

"We really want to kind of eliminate that, eliminate the stigma with using this, because students are working so hard and are putting in a lot of hours, a lot of various roles that they're playing," she said.